Apparatus for scoring boxing bouts and the like



g- 15, 1933- c. M. AMORY 1,922,517

APPARATUS FOR SCORING BOXING BOUTS AND THE LIKE Filed Feb. 4; 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 :H: Al i (iii H fi 11 1111 111,41 111, 27%; 2 3 w A? an? [ya y 6/ v l INVENTOR Charles N.Amorj BY W H .FMJW.

ATTORNEY APPARATUS FOR SCORING BOXING BOUTS AND THE LIKE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 24} 5 [a W is? S] MSW/[mm wikikizikik ikik iksk sk kikikikikikfiik mm. W

C. M. AMORY Filed Feb. 4, 1932 mumm 2 25 mm BUAEEHE Aug. 15, 1933.

INVENTOR h M- Amory BY aw w m;

' ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 15, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE APPARATUS FOR SCORING BOXING BOUTS AND THE LIKE 3 Claims.

This invention relates to apparatus for scor ing boxing bouts, and similar contests, and has for its principal object the provision of improved apparatus of this character by means of which the spectators may be kept informed throughout of the results. Another object resides in the provision of such a construction which is simple to operate, on the one hand, and clear and easily intelligible, on the other. Other objects and advantages will become apparent in connection with the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a boxing arena embodying one form of my improved scoring apparatus.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged elevation of one side of the scoring apparatus shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a section taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2, looking in the directionof the arrows.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged section taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig 5 is a diagrammatic view showing one form of wiring connections for operating the aforesaid apparatus.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown at 1 a boxing ring of generally conventional construction, having suspended thereabove from any suitable point a frame 2. This frame may be supported by cables 3 and is preferably of four-sided construction, score boards being car ried at each of the four sides, so that spectators at all sides of the ring may be kept informed as to the progress and results of the competition. The several score boards are desirably duplicates, and may be designated generally 4. In this manner, not only is provision made for in- 4 dicating the score in a clear and effective manner, but the frame 2 may be formed as a hollow square, within which may be located suitable lights for illuminating the ring. However, the

invention in its broadest aspects is not concern' ed with any particular location of the score boards, for they may be supported at one corner of the ring or other convenient point.

Turning to Fig. 2, there is shown a score board suitable for indicating the results of a boxing bout. Across the top of the board there are shown panels 5 adapted to indicate the number of the round, while below each number there are shown panels 5' containing symbols (for instance, stars,) for indicating the winner of each round. The contestants may be identified or designated according to the color of their tights, panels 5" bearing the words Red and Black, for instance, lying opposite the symbols. At the extreme right end of the board, means are shown for designating the winner. I prefer to provide for indicating the results by means of series of electric lights which are adapted to shine through light transmitting portions of individual panels.

In Figs. 3 and 4, there is shown one suitable form of construction embodying the invention, and in which hollow square frame 2 is shown carrying a plurality of boxes 6 which may be of any convenient construction, for housing electric light bulbs 7. These boxes may be mounted in the frame in any suitable manner and have re movable front wall portions, or doors, (not shown), so that bulbs may be put in place or replaced. Between the boxes 6 there are shown a plurality of glass partitions 8 and 8' through which light from bulbs 9 is adapted to be transmitted in order to provide, when desired, illuminated margins between the several boxes for emphasizing the individuality of the symbols. 7 The glass panels 8' may extend continuously and horizontally above and beneath the several 30 boxes containing the individual light bulbs 7, while the lights 9 may be mounted in hollow chamber 10 at the rear of the score boards. In this manner, a small number of powerful lamps 9 may be employed to light continuously the spacing members 8 and 8 irrespective of the lights in the boxes. As best shown in Fig. 4, the frame 5 may be formed with forwardly extending portions 11 between which the boxes and glass panels may be supported. In this manner, a simple and practical construction is provided, for permitting indvidual and independent illumination of numbers and symbols.

Means for operating the score boards preferably consist of a switch board 13 which may be conveniently located at one corner of the ring for control by the judges. When the match is about to begin a judge may press a suitable switch for illuminating the words Round, Red, and Black, as shown in Fig. 2, and also another switch for lighting the numeral 1. At the end of the round, after the judges have decided which contestant has won the round, one of the judges will operate the corresponding switch for either the red or the black star under the numeral 1 which designates the round. Thus, one of the symbols in this bank will be lighted, while the other remains dark. These operations may be repeated successively in each of the other rounds. If any round is a draw,

both symbols may remain dark or both be lighted. After the last round, the word Won may be lighled through a corresponding switch as well one of the stars in this column. Thus,

; a simple and effective means is provided for keeping the spectators informed as to the progress of the fight, and for indicating at any stage in the proceedings the standing of the contestants up to that point.

In Fig. 5, there is shown a diagrammatic view of part of one wiring system, where the lights are adapted to be supplied with current from a main 12. It will be understood that this wiring diagram is by way of illustration and that other convenient hook ups may be employed. It may be noted that a single switch is shown provided for lighting the three lamps in back of the words in the firstcolumn of the score board, and that each of the other lamps may be individually lighted. In this way provision may be made for announcing that a round is about to commence by lighting one of the round numbers.

For instance, the switches might be arranged so that immediately upon lighting either a red or black star for the first round, the numeral 2 would also be lighted, and so on. Although in the diagram the bulbs in but a single score board are shown, the corresponding bulbs in the other boards are preferably lighted simultaneously with the throwing of a given switch.

It will also be understood that instead of a single symbol for each contestant in each round, a number of lights, colored if desired, could'be employed, each light indicating a point awarded to a contestant. That is, the number of points scored by each contestant and on which the decision for the round is based, might be scored on the board. For instance, each of two judges might score, respectively, the points for each of the two contestants, and cause the score board to mark up each point as scored. Another type of score which might be kept on the present board is the games won by each player in a set of tennis.

Furthermore, the invention in its broader aspects is not limited to contests in which there are but two contestants, but, though especially suited to such contests, might be employed, possibly with certain changes, for scoring other contests.

The terms and expressions which I have employed are used as terms of description and not of limitation, and I have no intention, in the use of such terms and expressions, of excluding any equivalents of the features shown and described, or portions thereof, but recognize that various modifications are possible within the scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for scoring boxing bouts comprising a frame having a plurality of sides forming a hollow portion therebetween, a score board on each of said sides comprising a plurality of numbers indicating the rounds, a plurality of names to identify the contestants, a plurality of symbols opposite each number and name, a plurality of bulbs for individually illuminating each of said symbols, means to light said bulbs including a plurality of individually operable switches, whereby one symbol opposite each number may be illuminated and remain illuminated during the subsequent progress of the bout, and means to suspend the frame from above the center of the boxing ring.

2. In a device of the character described for scoring boxing bouts comprising a hollow frame, means to suspend the frame above a ring, said frame being adapted to receive therewithin lights for illuminating said ring and means to direct the beams from said lights onto the ring, score .board means including indicia and means to illuminate the indicia arranged at a plurality of sides of said hollow frame and carried thereby, and means for causing illumination of said indicia.

3. Apparatus for scoring a boxing bout comprising a hollow, rectangular frame of opaque material such as metal, means to suspend the frame above a boxing ring, means on a plurality of sides of said frame for identifying the contestants and indicating the winner of each round, means to illuminate said first-named means and means within said hollow frame for illuminating the ring, said frame being adapted to receive therewithin means to direct the light onto said ring.

CHARLES M. AMORY. 

